Steve Vai: The Infinity Shelf is now technically the infinity drive. Every time I have an idea for a song I capture it either with a vocal, a guitar riff, a photo etc. These are then stored. I probably realize one out of every 200 snippets of ideas that I have stored. Usually every day, I come up with another snippet to the point where I know that I'd never be able to complete all of the music that I have ideas for in this life. So I may have to come back and find the shelf (or drives) or whatever format (maybe I'll be sitting on it in the cloud) and continue where I left off. But a true goal for me in this life is to prioritize the ideas and be happy in the end & not feel the need to do any more. There you have it.

Billy McGuffey: Hey Steve, remember this? [Drawing of Steve] You signed it twice, both times I got to meet you in Chicago. I've met a lot of famous people, but you are the nicest personality. EXTREME CREATIONZ (The Art Of Billy McGuffey)

Steve Vai: I think I remember that guy in the photo. Just younger and thinner.

Fede Saurio: Well Steve, you got me into the magic of the Maj7 world, it's just so silky and like optimistic-melancoholic...well, whatever, how does it make you feel that kind of mood you set with that resource? Sorry if my question is too abstract, but i hope you get it, Best wishes , Fede from Argentina!

Steve Vai: One of the beautiful things about harmony is how it can capture and create an emotional atmosphere. When you're practicing your chords, be they maj7, min7, min/maj7 etc. give all your attention to the atmosphere that they create as opposed to just memorizing the fingering and the name. These chords become colors on your palette so when you go to paint your oral pictures, you will have deeper hues to choose from.

Евгений Желязков Велев: What you feel when you perform "For the love of God" ? You think people feel this song or just are watching someone playing their favorite song? For me, it's awesome song with great feelings. Thank you, and keep playing with your 3'rd hand, your Guitar.

Steve Vai: I think that different people experience music in different ways and in all the myriad ways that people experience music, are all valid. There's no right or wrong way to interpret music. That's one of our great freedoms. When I perform "For the Love of God" there are occasionally many emotions and sometimes many thoughts that go through me but for the most part, I feel as though I'm riding at the tip of an exquisite wave of deep gratitude. I do feel that a lot of people who watch an entertainer are moved by the confidence and sincerity in the entertainer's performance. So I feel it's my responsibility to go as deep as I can into the moment of every note in the event that there are those who are interested in coming along for the ride.

Djentleman Josh: Steve, can you find some way to collaborate with Guthrie Govan? It'd be the greatest thing to happen to guitar based music this century so far.

Steve Vai: Good idea.

Tracey Wallace Bocksnick: Who have you not jammed with that you want to?

Antonio Guadagno: Hello Mr. Vai, my question is: what is the song that prompted you to start playing the guitar?

Steve Vai: Heartbreaker by Led Zeppelin.

Dan Hayston: Steve, can you please will my hands to be bigger? Yours, Dan with Average/Small hands

Steve Vai: Will do.

Dave Lyndon Jon: Who are your favourite new players of today?

Steve Vai: I enjoy watching anybody play the guitar.

Francesco Di Calabria: Do you have anything to say about Dimebag Darrell today on his birthday?

Steve Vai: Thinking about him; fond memories, deep respect. He was an original but more than that, a really beautiful person. My deepest sympathies to his family in facing the unthinkable.

Meda Džiugaitė: Hey Steve! I'm that little girl from Lithuania in 2009. [posted photo with Vai] I'm still a huge fan. My question is: How many guitars do you have and do you play with them all?

Steve Vai: Ah, there you are! I think I have 263 guitars. Many of them are experimental prototypes from Ibanez Guitars. Most of them have something interesting or unique to them. I don't usually collect vintage guitars, although I have a few. But only because I like the way they sound and feel. They're all stringed and ready to go, and although I don't play with them all every day, within certain periods of time, I do get through most of them. At this time I'm working on lightening my load from many of them to raise money for the Make a Noise Foundation. So if you're interested, keep an eye our for periodic auctions.

Barabássy Tímea: I LOVE YOU. Steve Vai: I bet you feel that way about anybody when you're strapped to a jet engine like that. Nice photo Bara, I love you more. [Refering to her profile photo]

Nico Troidé Bonjour Steve, a friend of mine made me this pick, and he carved me a tree of life on it as i asked him, that's my favorite pick now, and it match with my Jem, he can make any pick you dream... greating from France [Posts photo of Vine inlay guitar pick]

Steve Vai: I don't usually dream of picks, but when I do, they might look like that!

Vanny Tonon: How did you met Jason Becker and do you like fusion/outside playing?

Steve Vai: I met Jason Becker for the first time at a fundraiser for him. He's extraordinarily brave and talented. But what a lot of people do not know is he has an amazing sense of humor.

Kent Sandvik: Will you be able to answer all these questions ever?

Steve Vai: Well...

Brandon Brown: I've been accepted to Berklee at the age of 16. Im a guitar player from Scotland, UK. My scholarship is $72,000 but I need to raise the rest of the money which is looking unlikely - any advice for me?

Steve Vai : Align yourself with the reality of going to Berklee. See yourself in the classrooms, in the hallways, in the libraries, in the streets. Talking to other musicians, jamming, studying the courses, feeling the atmosphere. Do that right now wherever you are. If you can align yourself with this, chances are the right things will happen to get you there. Maybe it means finding the additional cash, maybe it means a discount, maybe it means... Just be open to it.

Kenny Mac: Steve.. Will you and Joe PLEASE record an album together.. PLEASE..

Steve Vai: Ok.

Julien: Tello Hey steve, where do you buy your shirts ? They are awesome.

Steve Vai: Thank you. Most of them are handmade by Terri King or Tony Sartino. They bring me fabrics to choose from and then we design the clothes. They really get the stuffing beat of them though...

Stuart Lambeth: What's with the Kleenex next to the lap top ?? Ha ha

Steve Vai: That's for wiping my hands after I jack off to internet porn. What the fuck do you think its there for?

Samuele Praticelli: Hi Steve, what are you working on at the moment? Hope you took the chance to have a nice relaxing vacation before resuming the tour. Thank you so much for being you! See you on the road!

Steve Vai: As soon as I got off the Pacific Rim tour, Jeremy Colson, my wife Pia & our 21 year old son, Fire, went backpacking into the Mammoth Mountains of California for 3 days. I'll be posting photos eventually. But now I have one week before leaving for the continued "Story of Light" tour and this week I'm working on a live DVD and CD of this tour. It's looking great! You can check out a teaser of "Gravity Storm" - just go to YouTube, type in "Gravity Storm Steve Vai AXS TV"

Jonne Saikanmäki Sometime ago you mentioned a chord. You said that when you play it. it feels like you are standing on a mountain. Could you tell me the chord`s name and the correct way to play it? And When are you coming to Finland? Please come soon!

Steve Vai: It's a Bbmaj 6/9 #11 and the root (Bb) is first fret on the A string. And then you let ring open the D and the G string. Then you play "C" on the B string and then open high e string. Tada! Mountainy fresh!

Peter Druffel: What, in your opinion, is god?

Steve Vai: God is something that is beyond opinions. If you ask yourself "who am I?" -any answer that you can come up with is wrong. And that's what God is.

Nicolai Böhlefeld: Hi Steve, in a recent interview you mentioned you had to change the way you usually alternate pick due to an injury. What did you change exactly, the right hand position or the whole movement? I think your alternate picking – also you do not use it that often – is still amazing. It seems like you only have to move your wrist fractional to get incredibly fast (I always have to move my whole arm for faster runs). Could you explain this please?

Steve Vai: I like to think of the economy of motion --meaning that it only takes a small movement to make a note sound. The accident has helped me to see it that way but it was a conscious effort to pick less and use more legato. Its sort of the difference between water rushing over a waterfall without any obstructions compared to a waterfall that is filled with boulders. They're both beautiful but I've already rode my raft over the boulders.

Nick Venables: Hey Steve! I don't really have a question (have a million of 'em actually, just can't think of one right now)... I just wanted to tell you that when I was 12 years old I saw you play the National Anthem at the 1st Annual Rock 'n' Jock Softball game and that moment changed my life. Shortly after I went on a vacation with my parents and listened to P&W through headphones for pretty much the entire drive (at least 10 hours each way). To this day, I think of "Erotic Nightmares" as the epitome of instrumental storytelling. Also, thank you for the JEM - I just bought a 7V7 and also own a VSBL. Okay, here's a question...hope it's not too personal: How much (ball park) does it cost to build a studio like Harmony Hut?

Steve Vai: Thanks for your question. These days it's easy to put a studio together based on your needs. The way technology is, you can make a good sounding record in your bedroom. But to build a studio that's soundproof is different that building any other kind of building in that the best sound insulation is to build a room within a room. So take the costs of what normal square footage to build in your area and double it and you make be in the ballpark.

Junaid Munir: what's you favorite Joe Satriani track?

Steve Vai: Crying (sings melody)

Last edited by Jeries on Mon Aug 26, 2013 11:47 am, edited 1 time in total.

Brandon Brown: I've been accepted to Berklee at the age of 16. Im a guitar player from Scotland, UK. My scholarship is $72,000 but I need to raise the rest of the money which is looking unlikely - any advice for me?

Steve Vai : Align yourself with the reality of going to Berklee. See yourself in the classrooms, in the hallways, in the libraries, in the streets. Talking to other musicians, jamming, studying the courses, feeling the atmosphere. Do that right now wherever you are. If you can align yourself with this, chances are the right things will happen to get you there. Maybe it means finding the additional cash, maybe it means a discount, maybe it means... Just be open to it.

thank you, i enjoy reading this. does anyone can explain exactly the accident? is there any part of hand wasted? my right hand thumb base is bad after years playing. maybe we both need hialuronic acid to rebuilt much worked hands.